IN OUR JOURNEY WE VISITED MANY FACES WITH OUR POULTRY INDUSTRY LEGENDS, AND ONE AMONG THEM IS Dr. A.P. Sachdev
Dr. Ramesh Sikka: Today’s interview is a little different from the ones we usually do. We’ve lost a stalwart of our poultry industry, Dr. A.P. Sachdeva, and it’s a profound honor — and also quite emotional for me personally — to speak about him today. He wasn’t just a colleague to me; he was my mentor, someone who shaped my early years in this industry. So with his family’s blessings, I’ll be answering these questions on his behalf, sharing what I know of his life and journey.
Q1. Was he originally from Gurgaon?
No, he wasn’t. Dr. Sachdeva was born in Firozpur, Punjab. As a child, he moved with his family to various locations before finally settling in Delhi in 1964. Later, in 2001, he made Gurgaon his home, where he spent much of his professional life.
Q2. What is the best thing you liked about your journey with him?
As his mentee, what stayed with me most was watching him work for the poultry segment with such full strength and a relentlessly positive attitude. That energy never faded — right from the start of his career to his very last days associated with the industry, his love for this segment remained constant. That consistency is rare, and it’s something I’ve tried to carry forward myself.
Q3. Why did he choose the poultry profession?
He was a completely self-made man. From the very beginning, he took genuinely to this profession — and with his knowledge, his energy, and his extensive travels across India and Southeast Asia, he just kept wanting to do more. The more he saw, the more he wanted to contribute. That hunger to learn and grow never really left him.
Q4. Compared to other big players in the industry, what made his presence different?
He was always extremely active and eager to learn the latest technology. That curiosity is what set him apart — he contributed to the industry in a big way and held his own at the top, both in terms of knowledge and innovation. He never let himself become outdated, even after decades in the field.
Q5. Please tell us about his family.
He’s survived by his wife, son – Amit Sachdeva, and a daughter. They were, of course, very close to him, and his loss has been deeply felt within the family.
Q6. What dream did he have for the next generation entering this business?
He was always genuinely thankful for the new entrants coming into the industry. His message to them was always simple and clear — work hard, and do it with a positive attitude. I can say this from personal experience too — as a veteran myself now, I learned so much under his guidance. Many of the lessons he gave me, I still try to pass on to others.
Q7. What was his favourite eatery food?
He genuinely loved food of all kinds, but if you really got him talking, chicken and kababs were his absolute favourites. He had this incredible knowledge of restaurants across different cities in India — honestly, if you were travelling somewhere and needed a good recommendation, he was the man to ask.
Q8. What were his hobbies?
Travelling, and making new contacts and networks for the industry. For him, the two were almost the same thing — every trip was a chance to meet someone new, build a relationship, and strengthen the industry’s network in some way.
Q9. Anything you’d like to add?
Just that… his passing left me deeply shocked. On behalf of myself and his many well-wishers in the industry, I’d like to offer my family’s shradhanjali to him on his birthday, the 27th of June. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He will always remain a guiding light for those of us who had the privilege of knowing and learning from him.
